The Holy Father, Pope Francis has accepted the resignation from pastoral government of the Greek-Melkite Church presented by His Beatitude Gregoio III Laham, Patriarch of Antioch for the Greek-Melkites.
According to the law, the eldest in years of ordination on the Permanent Synod - His Excellency, Jean-Clément Jeanbart, Archbishop of Aleppo for Greek-Melkites - functions as the Administrator of the Greek-Melkite Church until a new Patriarch is elected.
To His Beatitude, Gregoire III Laham
Patriarch of Antioch for Greek Melkites
and all the Bishops of that Church
Your Beatitude, and Venerable brothers in Christ,
In my solicitude for all the Churches, I greet you, grateful for your service to the People of God and aware of your responsibility as Pastors.
Since the meeting of the Synod of Bishops last February, His Beatitude, during an audience that I granted to him, spontaneously presented his resignation from Patriarchal responsibilities and asked me to decide the best time to accept it. After having prayed and reflected attentively, I deem it opportune and necessary for the good of the Greek-Melkite Church to accept his resignation today.
Thanking His Beatitude, a zealous servant of the People of God, for the years of generous service to his Church and for having kept the attention of the international community focused on the tragedy being experienced in Syria, I invoke upon you all the intercession of the Holy Mother of God and I willingly give my Apostolic blessing to our beloved Greek-Orthodox Church, as a sign of grace and encouragement for a future lived in communion and witnessing to the gospel.
From the Vatican
6 May 2017
Francis
His Beatitude, Gregorio III (Loufti) Laham was born on 15 December 1932 in Daraya (Syria), in the Archeparchy of Damascus. Having entered into the Basilian Order of the Most Holy Savior of Melkites, he professed perpetual vows on 20 January 1952. He subsequently completed studies in Rome, at the Pontifical Oriental Institute, and was ordained a priest on 15 January 1959.
After returning to Lebanon, he was named Rector of the Seminary of his Order and taught Theology and Liturgy. His apostolate then continued both in Lebanon and in Syria, with a particular focus on youth ministry.
Elected to the titular See of Tarso for Greek Melkites on 9 September 1981, he received Episcopal Ordination on 27 November 1981, with pastoral responsibility as Auxiliary and Protosincello of Jerusalem for Greek-Melkites.
On 29 November 2000, the Synod of Bishops of the Greek-Melkite Church canonically elected him Patriarch of Antioch for Greek-Melkites, following the resignation of His Beatitude, Maximos V. As the new Patriarch, he assumed the name Gregorio III. The day after his election, His Beatitude asked Pope Saint John Paul II for ecclesiastical communion. It was granted on 9 December of that same year.
During the years of the current crisis in Syria, His Beatitude, Gregorio III demonstrated great enthusiasm for peace, commitment to reconciliation and paternal closeness to his faithful.
His Excellency, Jean-Clément Jeanbart was born in Aleppo on 3 March 1943; after having been ordained a priest on 15 April 1968, he continued his studies in Rome. From 1968 to 1972, he served as Pastor in Aleppo. He was subsequently appointed Rector of the Major Seminary of Saint Anne in Raboueh and taught Moral Theology and Canon Law at the Institute of Saint Paul to Harissa in Lebanon.
On 2 August 1995, the Synod of Bishops of the Greek-Melkite Church canonically elected him Archbishop of Aleppo for Greek-Melkites. On 16 September of that same year, he received Episcopal consecration.
According to the law, the eldest in years of ordination on the Permanent Synod - His Excellency, Jean-Clément Jeanbart, Archbishop of Aleppo for Greek-Melkites - functions as the Administrator of the Greek-Melkite Church until a new Patriarch is elected.
Letter of the Holy Father, Pope Francis
To His Beatitude, Gregoire III Laham
Patriarch of Antioch for Greek Melkites
and all the Bishops of that Church
Your Beatitude, and Venerable brothers in Christ,
In my solicitude for all the Churches, I greet you, grateful for your service to the People of God and aware of your responsibility as Pastors.
Since the meeting of the Synod of Bishops last February, His Beatitude, during an audience that I granted to him, spontaneously presented his resignation from Patriarchal responsibilities and asked me to decide the best time to accept it. After having prayed and reflected attentively, I deem it opportune and necessary for the good of the Greek-Melkite Church to accept his resignation today.
Thanking His Beatitude, a zealous servant of the People of God, for the years of generous service to his Church and for having kept the attention of the international community focused on the tragedy being experienced in Syria, I invoke upon you all the intercession of the Holy Mother of God and I willingly give my Apostolic blessing to our beloved Greek-Orthodox Church, as a sign of grace and encouragement for a future lived in communion and witnessing to the gospel.
From the Vatican
6 May 2017
Francis
Curricula vitae of His Beatitude, Gregorio III Laham
His Beatitude, Gregorio III (Loufti) Laham was born on 15 December 1932 in Daraya (Syria), in the Archeparchy of Damascus. Having entered into the Basilian Order of the Most Holy Savior of Melkites, he professed perpetual vows on 20 January 1952. He subsequently completed studies in Rome, at the Pontifical Oriental Institute, and was ordained a priest on 15 January 1959.
After returning to Lebanon, he was named Rector of the Seminary of his Order and taught Theology and Liturgy. His apostolate then continued both in Lebanon and in Syria, with a particular focus on youth ministry.
Elected to the titular See of Tarso for Greek Melkites on 9 September 1981, he received Episcopal Ordination on 27 November 1981, with pastoral responsibility as Auxiliary and Protosincello of Jerusalem for Greek-Melkites.
On 29 November 2000, the Synod of Bishops of the Greek-Melkite Church canonically elected him Patriarch of Antioch for Greek-Melkites, following the resignation of His Beatitude, Maximos V. As the new Patriarch, he assumed the name Gregorio III. The day after his election, His Beatitude asked Pope Saint John Paul II for ecclesiastical communion. It was granted on 9 December of that same year.
During the years of the current crisis in Syria, His Beatitude, Gregorio III demonstrated great enthusiasm for peace, commitment to reconciliation and paternal closeness to his faithful.
Curriculum Vitae of His Excellency, Jean-Clément Jeanbart
His Excellency, Jean-Clément Jeanbart was born in Aleppo on 3 March 1943; after having been ordained a priest on 15 April 1968, he continued his studies in Rome. From 1968 to 1972, he served as Pastor in Aleppo. He was subsequently appointed Rector of the Major Seminary of Saint Anne in Raboueh and taught Moral Theology and Canon Law at the Institute of Saint Paul to Harissa in Lebanon.
On 2 August 1995, the Synod of Bishops of the Greek-Melkite Church canonically elected him Archbishop of Aleppo for Greek-Melkites. On 16 September of that same year, he received Episcopal consecration.
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